Chapter 23:
A veteran and two rookies
January 28th 2018, town of Drachenherz.
Staff Sergeant Marcus "Roman" Damascus and the Marines of 1st squad, 2nd platoon, were on their first patrol in the local area. The three vehicle sized convoy was overwatching the the town's main marketplace, which was in front of the church. However, it seems that the digimon were more curious at them than the goods in the stands. Dozens of townspeople stare at the vehicles with awe and some with fear. Eventually it had proved a problem for Marcus and his Marines since the local populace was blocking the street and their view on the marketplace.
"So... what should we do now, sarge?" Asked the young PFC. Jason Clive, who was the lead M-ATV's driver.
"We'll just have to go on foot." Marcus groaned and took his M4A1 carbine. "Myers, Scott! On me!" He ordered before going out of the vehicle. "The rest of you stay here." He later instructed through his radio headset.
After managing to go through the heavy crowd of digimon, the small 3-men team were able to proceed to their mundane foot patrol in the marketplace. The local marketplace was packed with different digimon wandering around, giving the Marines a hard time to navigate through due to their relatively small size.
They were merely looking around casually, sometimes they'll stop by to a stand and chat a little with the local sellers and townspeople. While Marcus talked with the locals, PFC. Nick Myers and Lcpl. Dan 'Scott' Pilgrim looked around with curiosity at the diverse goods of the DigiWorld like children staring at a showcase of a toy store.
"Ooh, what's that?" Nick asked with interest as he points at a hexagonal package.
"Uh, excuse me. My friend here is curious of what you are selling." Dan asked politely to the Aegiomon merchant.
"These are DigiNoir, a popular digimon snack that grows on trees. There are lot in the Island Zone." The digimon explained with a proud smile.
"Dude, that means it's like as if skittles grew on trees!" Stated Nick amazed by the fact.
"Can you imagine the possibilities if that was true in our world?" Hypothesized Dan with the same tone.
"I can give you a package for free if you want." Suggested Aegiomon, handing them the snack.
The two Marines were a bit hesitant due to Marcus' strict policy with the locals, but thanks the Aegiomon's further persuasion, they eventually accepted.
"Think of it as a 'thank you for your services' gift." The merchant added.
The Marines opened the package and were initially disappointed with the appearance of the grain/cereal-like snack, they were hoping for some candies or chocolates but they took a handful and ate. They immediately took a liking to it.
"This is like it came from the Heavens." Commented Dan as he took more from the package.
"And they have in abundance. Dude, I think we've just found our solution to world hunger." Nick added after quickly finishing his DigiNoir and bought two others.
"Somebody stop those two thieves now!" A merchant shouted nearby.
The Marine patrol team ran towards the merchant's stands, pushing aside Digimon to go through the curious crowd. They saw a stand on the ground with its fruits spilled all over the pavement.
"Who did this?" Marcus asked the Veedramon merchant.
"It's those two rookies running away!" Veedramon shouted in response.
Marcus looked at the direction the dramon pointed at and spotted a Gabumon and an Agumon running away from the crowd with bags full of fruits. Marcus signaled his men to follow him and they chased the two rookie digimon. He ordered the rest of the squad to stay put.
Agumon and Gabumon ran to an alleyway and hid behind tall barrels to catch some breath. After the two calmed down, they suddenly laugh cheerfully from the adrenaline rush.
"You think someone followed us?" Asked Gabumon after the laughter died down.
"Nope." Agumon replied confidently as he takes a bite at an apple.
Just as they were about to walk out of the alleyway, their way was blocked by three human soldiers. The rookie digimon raised their hands in surrender, Agumon dropped the bag full of fruits by accident while doing so.
"Dan, take the bag." Ordered Marcus calmly.
"So, what should we do, Staff Sergeant?" Asked Nick curiously.
"We'll just bring these kids back to their homes." He replied before he knelt down to face the two digimon. "Where are you from?"
The two rookies looked at each other hesitantly before Gabumon answered shyly:
"The Primary Village..."
Marcus looked at the digimon with surprise. "That's a long way from here, you know."
Agumon and Gabumon nodded with their heads hung in shame.
"Right. Dan return the fruits to the merchant and meet us back at the vehicles." He instructed before facing back at the rookies. "You two follow me. We're bringing you back home."
The two digimon felt relief washing over them but they still feel nervous once they think about Wargreymon's reaction when they return. Once they joined up with the rest of the squad, Marcus instructed the digimon to go in the RG-33 MRAP. Meanwhile the Staff Sergeant was reporting the platoon commander about the recent incident in the M-ATV.
"We're simply going to deposit the rookies at the Primary Village, so expect us at least at 1800 hours." He explained to 2nd Lieutenant McCliff.
"Alright then. Travel safe, Marines." He responded.
"Will do." Marcus then turned to the driver. "You know the way, Clive?" The Marine driver simply nodded and started up the engine.
The three massive transport vehicles slowly moved out of the town and headed to the Primary Village. Meanwhile in the RG-33, Agumon and Gabumon looked around them with awe and curiosity at all the military equipment present in the vehicle. Though they were cramped in their seats with the Marines, they didn't mind, they were too pre-occupied by how cool the humans' military arsenal looked. The Marines in the transport had small smiles of pride upon hearing the comments and praises they were getting.
An hour as passed. The convoy travelled calmly through the peaceful grassy plains of Eniac. The sun shone brightly, envelopping the DigiWorld in its gentle warmth. The gunners of the vehicles felt lucky that they could enjoy the most the scenery around them. Staff Sergeant Marcus had his window opened so he could enjoy some breeze from the fresh air and to cool him off from being cooked in the vehicle. Out of boredom, he started to hum an old song from the 80s. That hum was then joined by Clive who sung along, and later the entire crew began singing loudly, even the gunner.
"A vacation in a foreign land, Uncle Sam does the best he can
You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army now"
Soon the entire squad sung along happily. Agumon and Gabumon were woken up by the sudden loud and terrible singing but they seemed to enjoy the funny and relaxed atmosphere; oblivious to the rather depressing lyrics of the song.
"You've got your orders better shoot on sight, your finger's on the trigger but it don't seem right
You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army now
You're in the army now, oh-oo-oh you're in the army now"
At the end, the Marines cheered out loud, feeling a bit relaxed. Half an hour later, the Marines finally arrived at their destination. Wooden palisades were installed around the village. In front of the convoy was a Wargreymon guarding the large wooden gates. The digimon had his arms crossed and he doesn't seem too happy to see humans nearing the important village. Marcus got out of the vehicle with his helmet off and arms raised up to the air to show the digimon he had come in peace.
"We're only here to drop off two of your younglings here." He stated calmly.
"Let me guess: it's Agumon and Gabumon." Wargreymon said with irritation in his voice.
"Uh, yeah. Guess they're the troublemakers." Marcus guessed with an amusing smile.
"Yup. I'll get the gates open."
Marcus went back in the vehicle and instructed the driver to go forward, but slowly and carefully, to avoid crushing any baby Digimon. The Marines then got out of the vehicles and got surprised when they noticed that the ground is elastic, which explained why their vehicles were starting to sink in the ground due to heavy weights. They looked around and were amazed to see such a peaceful and childish area still unharmed by the already decade old war.
The landscape was consisted of large green fields with several stuffed building blocks, trees with toys and plushies hanging from the branches and a large, soft and spongy hill at the center of the village where several baby digimon were bouncing on joyfully. Another field was filled with numerous Digi-Eggs, all waiting to be hatched at any moment. A Swanmon was taking care of the eggs.
"WHERE ARE THESE TWO TROUBLEMAKERS?!" Demanded furiously a small old-lady like digimon stomping towards the Marines with an Elecmon following behind her.
The Marines paled at her furious appearance and walked out of her way as she walks in front of Agumon and Gabumon, their heads hung in shame.
"Do you two have any idea how worry I was?! You've been gone for two days! Two days without any money or food and water!" She scolded at them.
"We're deeply sorry, Babamon, and we promise to never do it ever again." The two rookies stated simultanously in an apologetic tone.
Babamon simply lets a frustrated sigh and ordered them to get in their rooms with Wargreymon escorting them. She turned to Damascus, who stood straightly and saluted her.
"Oh please, no need for fancy formalities. I'm just an old granny, you're the ones fighting with your lives at risk out there." She told him before proposing. "Would any of you gentlemen, like some tea and cookies?"
Marcus face-palmed as soon as his Marines were all getting giddy and happy by the proposition.
"Alright, I guess." He eventually agreed reluctantly after the Marines begged him. "Dan, Nick and Clive stay with the vehicles." He ordered at the three mentionned Marines.
While the Marines were getting some rest or patrolling the village's palisades, dozens of baby digimon huddled around some of them and stared at the humans curiously. A group of digimon looked at Dan, Nick and Clive, who were trying to eat their DigiNoir but they seemed uncomfortable in front of their 'audience'.
Meanwhile with Agumon and Gabumon, Wargreymon was giving another lecture and life lessons in their bedroom.
"Have I made myself clear?" He demanded sternly.
"Yes, Dad." They somberly replied.
Wargreymon knelt down so that his eyes would be at the same level as his two sons.
"Look, I know that this place isn't the best for you but... you need to understand that I doing this to protect you. I can't afford to lose you two. You're everything I have left." He explained to them saddly.
"B-but what about mom?" Asked Gabumon with worry.
"I haven't received any news from her for a month now. I just hope that she is still alive." Answered Wargreymon stoically.
"I miss mom..." Agumon said before he cried on his father's shoulder.
"We all do, son. We all do. But if we put faith in her, then she will be fine. M-maybe she'll come back soon and we'll go back home. Alright?" Wargreymon comforted his two children while still thinking about his wife, who was gone fighting the Imperium across the DigiWorld.
Marcus was walking out of Babamon's house with a bag full of freshly baked cookies. He puts on his helmet and was about to head to the convoy until a question popped in his mind.
"Uh, ma'am. Do you mind if you can tell me why Agumon and Gabumon are here?" He asked curiously.
Babamon sat on her swinging chair that was at the front porch of the house and started to knit while she spoke up.
"Because of the war, Staff Sergeant. Their mother has gone to fight the Imperium while their father, the Wargreymon you just met, took them here as a refuge, a safe place. Wargreymon was once a proud and fierce warrior of the Strike Force back when the war started. But due to a near-death experience four years ago, he was discharged from the military. Since then, he awaits faithfully for his wife to return. But with the Imperium's expansive control, he was about to lose hope. Until you humans came in."
"Until we came in?" He asked out loud, confused.
"Yes, you give us hope. You showed the Imperium that eventhough you are a weak specie compared to us, you are determined to fight against all odds and prove the DigiWorld that you will not go down without a fight." She explained with a warm smile. "Eversince we heard of the Imperium's defeat at Dawnstar Hill, hundreds upon hundreds of Digimon started to rebel against the Imperium's tyranical rule. Rebellions were created, Alliances were formed. Hope is found thanks to one thing that humans have that makes them powerful: determination. A will to fight back and to help others."
"There is no need to regard us as heroes, we're just our job and duty as Marines, ma'am."
Babamon let a soft chuckle, "Oh you humans and your modesties, generous as always."
He was about to thank her for her welcomed hospitality when all of the sudden, his radio buzzed abruptly to life.
"Staff Sergeant! We've got possible hostiles at the gates. 400 meters, more than two dozens of them." Reported Corporal Peter Carrie urgently.
"Get the Marines to the palisades and those 50s up and loaded!" He ordered sternly while running through the field.
Elecmon and Swanmon ran to Babamon, awaiting for her instructions.
"Get them to the exploration cave and protect them there. Wargreymon and I will handle the rest."
The Marines took firing positions at the palisades' battlements while the main gates were open give the vehicles a clear line of sight. Ahead of them was a large group of various digimon, mostly Beast-type or Insect-type Digimon. Leading the group of mercenaries was a BanchoStingmon, looking at the soon to be battlefield with confidence.
"I see that the miserable Primary Village has hired some humans as its bodyguards. Too bad that they didn't have the entire human military protecting them." He said confidently with a smug smile. "This will be an easy battle."
"To the leader of this mercenary group." Marcus started to speak through a handheld megaphone. "You are advised to leave this place at once. This is the Primary Village and thus by the Sovereign Rules of Combat, this village is entirely neutral and should not be harmed or attacked. If you oppose to these rules, then you will suffer severe consequences from your deities." He warned at them, hoping they will turn back.
However, BanchStingmon simply laughed before he replied back with a mocking tone.
"The Sovereigners, Royal Knights and Archangels can kiss my ass all they want!" His mercenaries chuckled in response.
"Then let them face Hell." Marcus whispered. "Get ready, Marines! Show these fuckers who they're messing with!" He encouraged them loudly.
"OORAH!" They shouted in replied.
The leader of the mercenaries signalled his troops to charge in. Both Browning .50 cals of the lead M-ATV and RG-33 MRAP, along with the Mk 19 grenade launcher of the second M-ATV, opened fire, chewing up already a quarter of the mercenary force. The infantry opened fire at the two Mothmon who tried to fire back.
"Multiple Blaster!" They shouted before firing bullets of scales form their gatling guns at the palisades to suppress the Marines.
Clive managed to dive down just as the bullets whizzed over his head.
"Brave Shield!"
Wargreymon used his shield to deflect most of the incoming bullets for the Marines to retaliate. Several Marines thanked him gratefully before returning fire, killing the two flying digimon.
"Let 'em have it boys!" Marcus shouted high enough to be heard through the constant barrages of barking guns.
"Oh fuck! Staff Sergeant!" Bravo's fireteam leader, Corporal Tom Brown called him urgently, "We're gonna need the SMAW now!" He pointed out.
Looking over the battlements, Marcus, and soon the entire squad, watches with shock as a giant, heavily armoured rhinoceros beetle charching straight for them. The NATO 7.62mm and 12.7mm did nothing on its hard shell body, the powerful rounds bouncing off like airsoft pellets.
"Shit! Charlie, Albert, get the SMAWs now!" The squad leader ordered, the two mentionned quickly took their multi-purpose rocket launcher, loading the HEAA munition. "Take that fucking beetle out! The rest of you, SUPPRESSIVE FIRE!"
While the squad concentrated their fire on the armoured digimon, LCpl. Charlie Bowman stood up and aimed at the charging target. "Back blast clear! Firing!"
On the pull of the trigger, the battlement shook violently, covering the Marines in wood dust as the launcher shot out its anti-armour rocket. The high explosive munition travelled across the field at high speeds before connecting at one of RhinoKabuterimon's front legs. The rocket had enough penetrating force to pierced its hard shells and blowing it in chunks along with the flesh. The explosion was a bloody mess as bits of flesh and bone flew out of its body with a large shower of blood spewing outward. The explosive force was enough to push it backwards and onto its sides. Rolling and releasing a roar of agony made the entire merc force stop in their tracks and stare at it with pale faces, this was one of the toughest in the group; morale began to drop amongst the group.
RhinoKabuterimon rolled to its right and tried to get back up, only to be stopped immediately by a second rocket, this time hitting straight through its massive horn, its head blown off in a spectacle of fleshy gore. From their positions, the Marines roared in victory at the show.
"Yeah! We got that motherfucker!"
"Eat shit you sons of bitches! Fuck yeah!"
At this sight, the Marines rejoiced their small victory and were now pumped for more, in other words, they got angrier and wanted more blood. As for the mercenaries, they were equally pissed, determined to avenge their fallen brothers. Seeing one of his best mercenary killed in front of him, BanchoStingmon furiously snarled before calling GeoGreymon. He then jumped in the air and gracefully landed of the massive dinosaur's hunched back.
"Charge! Make them pay!" He ordered furiously. The GeoGreymon let out a primal roar before charging into the fray.
"Oh fuck! Here comes a second one!" Shouted Cpl. Tom as he reloads his M4A1.
Charlie loaded a HEDP rocket in the tube and lifted the launcher over his right shoulder. Taking aim, he pulled the trigger, the launcher violently jerked upward for two seconds before he manages to balance his footings.
The third rocket soared through battlefield, leaving a thick trace of smoke behind. The high explosive munition hit GeoGreymon on his right shoulder, blowing the flesh and bones apart while hot shrapnels pierced his thick scales, causing severe damage to his organs and internal bleeding. As the greymon-specie digimon falls to his final moments, BanchStingmon leapt in the air before he was hit. The ultimate-level Digimon launched several bug-shaped mines at the palisades before landing with a front roll.
The mines got stuck on the gates and some parts of the tall wooden walls. The charges started to beep rapidly as the countdown went on. Nick was the one that had spotted them, and he wasn't thrilled about that.
"Holy fuck! Everyone get out!" He shouted at the top his lungs, "IED!" He warned, using the wrong terminology since he was used to the IEDs in Syria and Afghanistan.
The IED sent dread and chills down the Marines, most of them either witnessed or experienced its deadly presence back on Earth. Everyone instanly jumped out and ran away as far as their feet can take them. Unfortunately, time wasn't their ally in this case. The mines detonated, the palisades erupted to pieces. The gates blown inward, sending shards of wood and a violent shockwave. The RG-33 took the brunt of the gates' shockwave. PFC. John Woodrick, the gunner, shielded his face with his arms raised in front. Soon after a cloud of dust envelopped the area. The force of the explosion was enough knock him down in the armoured vehicle.
"Christ, are you okay man?" The driver, Pvt. Adam Griffin, asked worringly while he prepares his M4A1 carbine.
In response, the two-year veteran lifted a thumb-up as he groggingly sat up. The vehicle front windows were completely shattered, the bulletproof materials were busted beyond repairs.
"Come on, we need to get the fuck outta here." He suggested to the rookie.
With the walls and gates destroyed, the mercenaries rushed forward, the Marines were a bit disoriented but they managed to re-group. Though one problem came up for them, they were now in the open, where the enemies would face them in any minute in a close-quarter battle. Marcus ordered the vehicles to pull back while providing cover fire as the infantry falls back to one of the small woods in the field. From there, they should get some decent cover and some distance to fire.
In positions behind the trees and thick bushes, the Marines awaited for the mercenaries. The first merc in, an Etemon, was immediately destroyed by the Browning machine gun, his life ended in a pool of blood and flesh. Coming out of the dust cloud was a small pack of Dobermon charging at the Marines. The combined firepower of the M240B and M249 SAW of Fireteam Alpha and Fireteam Bravo, respectively, gunned down the pack to one in seconds. The survivor of the pack leapt at the nearest Marine, maws wide open.
Marcus shot at the Dobermon's head, killing it with one bullet before a Grizzlymon jumped on him and pinned him on the ground. Just as the digimon was about to bite his face off, he used his M4A1 rifle to block the beast's jaws and took out his combat knife to stab its left eye. The digimon let go off him and growled ferociously as it tries to crunched the rifle in its powerful maws. Marcus drew out his M9 pistol and some Marines opened fire at the massive bear. Once dead, he grabbed his rifle on the ground, he noticed the barrel was bent inward and the buttstock broken in half. Not to mention it was also covered in thick layers of saliva and blood.
"Volcano Strike!" A large ball of volcanic fire hurled straight at Fireteam Charlie.
"Scatter!" Yelled Turner, team leader of Fireteam Charlie.
Training kicked in as they all jumped out of harm's way, resulting in the ball of fire set a tree on fire. The Monochromon used the distraction to charge toward the human soldiers. When it was within a few meters to impale Bruce, an orange flash sailed pass him before the sickening sound of flesh being ripped apart filled his ears. Turning around, he saw Wargreymon standing right next to the dying Monochromon, three large, deep gashes across its entire right side, crimson blood flooded out of the gaping wounds. Wargreymon swept his right Dramon Killer in the air, cleaning some of the blood that coated his weapon. The veteran warrior looked over his left shoulder.
"Are you okay, Marine?" He asked in his deep voice, but it was also a sincere concern.
"Y-yeah, thanks to you, man." Bruce replied, still astonished by the digimon's speed and effectiveness.
Shadramon, one of the mercenaries, used his psychic wave attack to push out three Marines off his way before he twisted his body into a screw-like tornado and launched himself at a M-ATV. His attack was soon disrupted by the combined attacks of Agumon and Gabumon.
"Pepper Breath!"
"Blue Blaster!"
The two rookie attacks did enough damage to disorient Shadramon. PFC. Jack Ausburn, the HMG gunner, spotted the digimon and quickly turned the machine gun and aimed at him. He fired a burst of 12.7mm rounds, resulting in Shadramon peppered and his head blown off in a bloody mess.
"Sorry kids!" He apologised as the two rookies watched the scene with horror.
"Carrie! Call in reinforcements now!" Demanded Marcus after he ordered fireteam Bravo to fall back to a green field as a second defensive line.
He planned to derive the enemy assault so that the fighting would not harm the Digi-Eggs and the baby digimon. Unbeknownst to them, a Drimogemon along with a Prairiemon were digging underground to bypass the Marines' position to hopefully attack them by surprise from behind. After some quick digging, they decided to dig upwards and attack. However they somehow end up in a small comfortable house. They looked around in confusion.
"Did we maybe missed them by a few meters?" Asked Prairiemon.
"I don't know. I don't recognise this place on the map." Replied Drimogemon.
They then heard a foot tapping angrily behind them. They slowly turned around and paled upon seeing Babamon glaring at them, a glare that could even make a Mega level digimon shrink in fear. And the worst part for them was that they knew her when they were mere toddlers, and Babamon has a good memory.
"PRAIRIEMON! DRIMOGEMON!" She yelled furiously before she started to beat them up with her feared broom.
"SOMEONE TAKE OUT THAT FUCKING MONKEY SHIT!" Shouted Marcus, pointing at the Gorillamon who was blasting their cover away.
Wargreymon, Agumon and Gabumon were with Fireteam Alpha, pinned down aswell by the constant attack of a group Mothmon. The M-ATV's gunner got shot to the chest and fell in the vehicle, clutching his wound while calling for a corpsman. Agumon and Gabumon provided some cover fire while using Wargreymon's Braveshield as cover as the Marines extracted PFC. Ausburn out and tended to his wound. Wargreymon was trying to find a way to get close to the Gorillamon and take him out.
"Someone needs to draw the butterflies' fire out of our way!" LCpl. Buck suggested.
"I can draw out their fire but I need them out so I could take out Gorillamon." Proposed Wargreymon to the Marines. "I need someone to distract him." He added.
Agumon and Gabumon raised their hands to volunteer. "We have a plan dad!" They said confidently.
Wargreymon was about to protest but LCpl. Buck stopped him. "Any ideas would be helpful."
"Here it goes: Dad will draw out their fire with his Braveshield while charging at the monkey. Meanwhile, with the Mothmon are distracted, you guys can open fire and take them out. Gabumon and I will distract Gorillamon at the same time." Proposed Agumon.
The Marines seemed to agree with the plan and readied themselves for the signal. Wargreymon, however was very concerned about the safety of his two sons.
"Agumon, Gabumon. I can't just let you go. It's dangerous! Let the veterans handle this." He tried to reason with them.
"Dad, we can't just be sitting ducks while these humans die and the lives of many digimon are at stake!" Agumon countered, determined to help the Marines and save Primary Village.
"Yeah, Dad. This will be our chance to prove you that we can handle ourselves and we can be as strong as you just like in your stories." Added Gabumon with the same determination as his brother.
Knowing that time running out, Wargreymon reluctantly accepted to follow his sons' plan. He took deep breath before he ran out of cover and into the open with his Braveshield covering his head. The Mothmon seemed to be distracted by the big target and opened fire, neglecting the fact that the humans now have a window to fire back. With another Marine operating the Browning MG, the insect digimon were quickly dispatched.
Meanwhile, Agumon and Gabumon were firing small attacks while running around Gorillamon, who returned fire with an irritated growl. With him now distracted, Wargreymon ran at full speed towards his target, his Dramon Killers ready to strike a moment's notice. He cut Gorillamon's Energy Cannon arm and plunged the other Dramon Killer straight to the chest, the blades sticking out on the otherside of the body.
Agumon and Gabumon, upon witnessing their father taking the opponent down, cheered at him. Their cheering stopped once they saw BanchoStingmon diving straight at them. Wargreymon turned around and his eyes widened in shock and horror as he sees BanchoStingmon about the strike down his two sons. Filled with rage, he sprinted at full speed to save his loved ones, only to be rammed by a Kuwagamon across the field.
Time seemed to slow down as Agumon and Gabumon waited in regret and sorrow for their inevitable end. Just as they were about to be struck down, someone pushed them out of the way, making the leader of the mercenary group hit the ground. With surprise, the two rookies looked up and saw that a Marine saved them just in time.
Nick then give a powerful quick at the Mega-level digimon to the head and plunged his bayonet to the throat. The digimon swiftly grabbed it by the blade, stopping it from entering his throat which was mere inches away. The digimon then kicked the rifle out of his grasp and proceeded to headbutt the human. The strike was powerful enough to crack the helmet open, drawing out blood from his forehead.
"Fucking pests!" BanchoStingmon kicked the human's gut, making him rolled to his back.
Suddenly, the mercenary leader shielded himself with his arms as Fireteam Alpha advances on him, the volume of fire was enough to suppress him. To fight back, the digimon shot back mines at the team. Agumon and Gabumon ran away as fast as they can from this short period of distraction.
At the corner of his eyes, BanchoStingmon spotted running away. He laughed maniacally as he prepares his drill arms to finish the two rookies. Nick jumped on his back, his left arm around his neck while his right hand readied his combat knife. He lunged the blade at the throat. He repeated to stab the digimon in several areas as he struggles to stay on him. Eventually, BanchoStingmon launched his head behind, hitting the Marine on the nose, breaking it. The Marine's grasps on him loosened and fell on the ground while clasping his nose in intense pain.
"And stay DEAD!" The digimon shouted angrily while he plunges his two drill arms in his chest.
Nick's eyes shot wide open as he feels the two metallic drills piercing his plate carrier, bones and flesh. Blood poured out of his mouth, his vision blurred and his senses hazy. Satisfied BanchoStingmon draws out the two blades and spat out a large amount of blood. He sensed the two rookies still behind him, shaking with fear. With a crazed smile, he spun around slowly walks towards them, his throat profusely bled out, staining his already red armour a deeper shade of red.
"Don't worry kids," He started before he spat more blood, "This will be painless and quick-"
Those were his final words as three large blades protuded out of his chest from behind.
"But this won't" Wargreymon retorted grimly.
BanchoStingmon let one final hysterical laughter before fading into data. Wargreymon ran up to his two sons and hugged them dearly. The two rookies returned the hug happily and were relieved that they were still alive. However they were saddened when they saw their savior slowly bleeding to death. The Marines huddled around the corpsman, trying his best to stop the bleeding.
Dan knelt down and held Nick's right hand firmly. Tears were already falling down as he watches his best friend dying. Nick simply stayed silent before life was drained out of his eyes. His squadmates took off their helmets and hung their heads in a minute of silence. Joining them were Agumon, Gabumon and Wargreymon, the veteran digimon chanting a small prayer to the deceased.
The Marines were waiting patiently for their evacuation to come and get them. Babamon introduced them Prairiemon and Drimogemon, all beaten up, and handed them to the Marines for interrogation.
Half an hour later, two Osprey aircrafts arrived at the village, gathering the wounded and the Marines with the two prisonners. As the aircrafts departed back to base, the inhabitants of Primary Village cheered and waved the Marines goodbye. Marcus's squad waved back at the crowd.
As the Ospreys flew above the scenery, Marcus took off his helmet and rested his head against his seat, letting a sorrow sigh. He had lost three Marines during the battle and he knew deep down that he'll get more casualties once the IDDF decides to mount another massive assault against the Imperium. Observing each man, he could see through their stoic and stunned faces sadness and anger; he felt the same way. Without knowing, his hands clenched into fists, before he re-opens them slowly, there was no use for him to keep blaming the Digital World as the cause of these deaths, they all volunteered to go in here and defend their home. This is price to pay to defend one's home. Without sacrifices, Earth would surely fall in an evil that much worst than death.